| $@%&! level: Medium-Low (there isn't a whole lot, but it's pretty strong in places) “Bedroom” level: Low Violence level: High Back Cover: “In the nine centuries since the creation of the world, the Church of God Awaiting has grown all-powerful as the keeper of men's souls. It rules the planet of Safehold with the imprimature of God Himself...and with an iron fist. The power of the Office of Inquisition has turned to the suppression of all criticism and denounced that criticism as mortal sin. Now the “Group of Four”—men who have made themselves masters of the Church—have been challenged. The island kingdom of Charis has rejected their authority. The Church of Charis will no longer tolerate the casual abuse of power, the willingness to condemn entire realms to fire and the sword. The Kingdom of Charis has beaten off the Church's first attack and prepares to strike back. But not all of those who support the church are corrupt, and the Group of Four stands ready to use the faith and belief of those blameless souls for its own cynical ends. The gauntlet has been cast down, and full-scale religious war—the ugliest war of all—looms over Safehold. Yet to survive, Charis will require allies. Who will dare to stand with those who challenge the might and majesty of God's own Church? What ruler will dare to ally himself with those who stand condemned of defying the archangels' successors? King Cayleb of Charis needs the answers to those questions. He needs them badly. But he already has one ally with resources not even he can imagine: The mysterious warrior monk called Merlin, who holds the secret knowledge Charis may need to survive. Merlin is Cayleb's adviser, protector, and friend...and also the cybernetic avatar of a young woman named Nimue Alban, who died before the day of creation itself. Born on a murdered world called “Earth,” and the only person who knows why the existence of the human race hinges upon the outcome of the war between Charis and the Church of God Awaiting. Religious war may be an ugly thing, but the only alternative is uglier yet.” |
Now, I admit it doesn't have as rounded a story arc as the first book (which is called Off Armageddon Reef, in case you didn't catch that review). There isn't exactly a single threat to be overcome this time. Things are sort of setting up for the next installment, as often happens with second novels. On the other hand, things progress in a really interesting way, including an excellent love story or two. Also, some of that high violence score comes in to keep you on your toes. In fact, the biggest problem for me isn't the story arc—it's the sense of frustration I feel with the slow communication that is enforced by the lack of technology. Especially because everyone's favorite main character, Merlin, has the tech so that he already knows what's going on long before the report could arrive by ordinary means, and the fact is that he can't really tell anyone about it. However, that's another problem that gets properly resolved in this book (which makes me smile).
I think the real purpose of this story is to draw up sides. In the first book, it was Charis versus basically the whole rest of the world. While they managed to defend themselves beautifully, that kind of disparity just couldn't keep on, because it would have ended the story a bit too quickly. When the whole world is the enemy, main characters act more decisively and would probably end up either dead or in charge of everything in pretty quick order. So things have to simmer down a bit, and Charis manages to get some allies, who will provide a lot of excellent help in days to come. (Yes, you can tell that just by reading this second book, but I've already read ahead, so I know it for a fact.) And it also gives our heroes something to fight for, because after all, you can't threaten someone who has nothing left to lose.